Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his clarification regarding the rankings of our diplomatic staff in the countries mentioned. In the ranking of diplomatic speak, if I may use that term, I understand that if a country wishes to display its displeasure to another country with which it has diplomatic relations, what is called a "démarche" would be sent and there would be the possibility of the ambassador or chargé being called in. What is the significance of Ireland taking the decision not to upgrade the diplomatic missions in Ethiopia and Uganda? How will this decision be interpreted by the two Governments?

As the Minister of State is aware, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs has debated the morality of overseas development aid being given to countries which on the face of it seem to have a very poor governance record. Members on all sides of the House are aware the Government took its decision on Ethiopia because of the violence surrounding the elections there and the alleged flawed nature of those elections. However, Uganda is a headline maker and rarely out of the news. In providing in excess of €30 million, Ireland is a substantial donor country to Uganda. Unlike in Ethiopia, some of that money goes directly to the Ugandan Government. Questions have been raised about the corruption on the part of that Government. Does the Minister of State believe that taking this decision now sends a powerful message?

With the Chair's indulgence, I wish to ask about the decision of the Department of Foreign Affairs not to exchange ambassadors with Burma-Myanmar. This matter, in which I and other Members of the House have a continuing interest, was raised on Second Stage. An appalling human rights disaster continues in Myanmar. Aung San Suu Kyi continues to be kept under house arrest. The democratic wish of the Burmese people has been constantly denied and in recent weeks a bizarre decision has been taken by the junta there to relocate its capital to the border region, which is causing enormous disruption and is creating severe difficulties for the ethnic communities in the region to which it is proposing to move.

It seems like something out of science fiction to attempt to relocate from Rangoon to some isolated part of Myanmar. While I accept it is outside the scope of the Bill, the narrow question is about the decision not to exchange ambassadors and whether the Minister of State can assure the House that he will continue to press the military junta to bring itself into line with international best practice on human rights and good governance.